[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 177 (Thursday, September 12, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 74217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-20747]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[RTID 0648-XE263]


Endangered Species; File No. 23096

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; receipt of application for a permit modification.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the University of Georgia, Warnell 
School of Forestry and Natural Resources, 180 E Green Street, Athens, 
GA 30602 (Nate Nibbelink, Ph.D., Responsible Party) has requested a 
modification to scientific research Permit No. 23096-01.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before October 15, 2024.

ADDRESSES: The modification request and related documents are available 
for review by selecting ``Records Open for Public Comment'' from the 
Features box on the Applications and Permits for Protected Species 
(APPS) home page, https://apps.nmfs.noaa.gov, and then selecting File 
No. 23096 mod #10 from the list of available applications. These 
documents are also available upon written request via email to 
[email protected].
    Written comments on this application should be submitted via email 
to [email protected]. Please include File No. 23096 in the 
subject line of the email comment.
    Those individuals requesting a public hearing should submit a 
written request via email to [email protected]. The request 
should set forth the specific reasons why a hearing on this application 
would be appropriate.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Malcolm Mohead or Erin Markin, Ph.D., 
(301) 427-8401.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The subject modification to Permit No. 
23096-01, issued on November 20, 2023 (88 FR 85880, December 11, 2023), 
is requested under the authority of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, 
as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the regulations governing the 
taking, importing, and exporting of endangered and threatened species 
(50 CFR parts 222-226).
    Permit No. 23096-01 authorizes the permit holder to: quantify 
population dynamics and seasonal habitat of Atlantic and shortnose 
sturgeon in Georgia and Florida river systems and estuaries [i.e., 
Savannah (GA), Altamaha (GA), Ogeechee (GA), Satilla (GA), St. Marys 
(GA, FL), Nassau (FL) and St. Johns River systems (FL)]. Researchers 
may capture (by gillnet or trammel net), tag (passive integrated 
transponder, internal acoustic, and dart), anesthetize, genetic fin 
clip, fin ray clip, measure, weigh, photograph/video, blood sample, 
mucus sample, and laparoscopically biopsy gonads of juvenile, sub-
adult, and adult Atlantic and shortnose sturgeon. Early life stages of 
each species may be lethally sampled to document occurrence of spawning 
in systems. Up to two sturgeon of each species may unintentionally die 
annually in each river system during sampling activities, excluding the 
Satilla, St Marys, and St. Johns Rivers. The permit holder now requests 
authorization to: (1) increase the number of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon 
from 10 to 20 in the Ogeechee River that may be captured by trammel 
net, anesthetized, internally acoustically tagged, measured, weighed, 
PIT tagged, Floy tagged, tissue (genetic) sampled, and photographed 
annually prior to release; (2) increase the number of juvenile Atlantic 
sturgeon from 80 to 160 in the Ogeechee River that may be captured by 
trammel net, measured, weighed, PIT tagged, Floy tagged, tissue 
(genetic sampled), and photographed annually prior to release. A sub-
set of 80 of these fish may also have the leading and secondary fin 
rays, scute tips and epidermal mucus sampled. The permit expires 
January 31, 2030.

    Dated: September 9, 2024.
Amy C. Sloan,
Acting Chief, Permits and Conservation Division. Office of Protected 
Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-20747 Filed 9-11-24; 8:45 am]
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